The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-05-14
Political History Of Mississippi.


in the present State of Mississippi
was successfully under the rule
of Great Britain, Spain and France
before the United States govern.
ment took possession in 179S.
Georgia then claimed jurisdic.
tion over Alabama and Mississippi
but coded her rights upon the
payment of s1,25O,O00 out of the
proceeds of the sales of the pub
lie lands.
Hence as an historical and legal
curiosity in regard to this State,
we must refer back to the
Proprietary Charter of Carolina
of 1868.
Proprietary Charter of Georgia
1882.
Constitution of Georgia 1777.
The territorial government OF
Mississippi was established by the
United States in 1898, at its fifth
Congress, second session, by an
act entitled "An act for an ami
cable settlement of the limits
with the State of Georgia, and
authorizing the establishment OF
a government in the Mississippi
Territory
Subsequent to this, in 1900, the
United States, in its sixth Con.
gress, at it's first session, passed
another act relating to the terri.
torial government of Mississippi,
entitled :" An act supplemental to
the act entitled an act for an ami.
cable settlement of limits with
the State of Georgia, authorizing
the establishment of a govern
ment in the Mississippi territory"
Again in 1908, the Congress Of
the United States (tenth) at its
first session passed another aci
regarding the territorial govern
mant of Mississippi: can act ex'
tending the right of suffrage in
the Mississippi territory, and fol
other purposes which was ap
proved Jan. 8, 1908.
In 1917 an enabling act for Mis-
sissippi was passed. It's entitled
"An act to enable the people o.
the western part of the Mississippi
territory to form a constitution
and State government, and for thu
admission of such State into thu
Union on an equal footing will
the original States" This act wal
approved March l, 1917.
Under this enabling act con
vention of the representatives O
the people was called inhabitint
the western part of Mississippi
territory, contained within the fol
lowing limits, to wit: Beginning
ON the river Mississippi at th,
point where the southern bound
airy line of the State of TENNESSEE
strikes the same; thence cas-
along the said boundary line t
the Tennessee river; thence ~
the same to the mouth of Beal
creek; thence by a direct line Il
the northwest corner Of the coun
ty of Washington; thence dut
south to the Gulf Of Mexico
thence westwardly, including al
islands within six leagues of the
shore, to the most eastern juno
ton of Pearl river with Lake
Borgne; thence up said river tt
the thirty.frst degree of nortl
latitude; thence west along the
degree of said latitude to the
Mississippi river; thence up the
same to the beginning.
This convention assembled al
the town of Washington on July 7
1917, and completed its labors OF
Aug. 10, 1917. The Constitution
framed in this manner was sub
mitted to the people and ratified
at a special election, and is knowr
as the Constitution Of 1917.
David Holmes was the presi
dent of this convention, ant
Louis Winston its secretary.
In the same year, 1917, the Fif
teenth Congress of the United
States, at its first session, admit
ted Mississippi as a State into the
Union by a resolution, entitled Q
Resolution for the admission o.
the State of Mississippi into the
Union,D which was adopted Dec
10, 1917.
In 1882 the Mississippians made
another Constitution for the State
This one was framed by a conven
tion which met at Jackson, Sept
10, 1882, and completed its laborI
Oct. 26, 1882. 1t was ratified b,
the people at the next genera
election.
This Constitution, together will